‘Recruits were reacting to inmates’ long-standing disrespect’
’MATHATO SEBOKA
MASERU – The events that unfolded at the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, 2023, were a tragic culmination of unresolved challenges faced by correctional recruits.
What began as a standard search on November 22 led to escalating tensions, ultimately resulting in violence that left one inmate dead and several others badly injured.
During the first search, the recruits did not use force, even when faced with resistance. However, by the time they conducted the second search in December, the frustration from unresolved issues and the lack of guidance had boiled over, leading to assaults that shocked both the institution and the entire country.
This dramatic shift from restraint to aggression became the focus of testimony this week at the Commission of Inquiry chaired by High Court Judge Realeboha Mathaba, where Correctional Officer Teboho Mafomekoane recounted the harrowing details.
Mafomekoane, a recruit involved in the second search, testified about the chain of events that led to the violence. After the November search, the recruits raised numerous challenges they encountered at the MCCI, hoping for guidance.
Yet, despite their concerns, no solutions were provided, leaving the recruits to navigate a tense and complex situation without support.
Their frustration grew as they found themselves repeatedly disrespected and undermined by inmates, especially those with military backgrounds.
One particular incident stood out. Mafomekoane recalled on Monday how a soldier inmate brazenly claimed to outrank Assistant Commissioner Manaka, the commander of the MCCI. This bold assertion challenged the authority of the correctional officers, creating a hostile environment.
“We did not appreciate that,” Mafomekoane explained, “because here at MCCI, Assistant Commissioner Manaka is the one who calls the shots, not an army inmate.”
The situation was further complicated by the behaviour of inmates in Block B, who repeatedly refused to cooperate with the recruits. Despite pleading with them to stand up for searches, the inmates stubbornly resisted Mafomekoane said.
The recruits, he testified, felt disrespected and powerless, especially when one recruit recounted how an inmate completely ignored him, continuing to eat as though the officers were invisible. “Insults and mocking from other inmates only added to the recruits’ frustration,” he also said.
Despite these challenges, Officer Tsietsi, who was responsible for instructing the recruits, offered no solutions. Mafomekoane expressed his disappointment, noting that Tsietsi’s failure to address the recruits’ concerns directly contributed to the violence that ensued during the second search. “If he had provided solutions, there would not have been these events that happened,” Mafomekoane lamented.
The atmosphere among the recruits grew even more charged after a conversation with Chief Officer Ratšele. During a parade at the Correctional Service Training School (CSTS), evidence shows that Ratšele criticised the recruits for being “lenient” during the first search.
His comment, that the recruits had failed to assert themselves when inmates resisted, left a lasting impact on them. Mafomekoane reflected on the pressure this criticism created: “His comment was clear: When inmates were resisting the search in their cells, we did not become aggressive.”
This criticism, combined with the unresolved challenges, set the stage for what happened on December 22. The recruits felt they had been pushed into a corner, and their frustration finally erupted during the second search. Inmates who resisted the search faced the brunt of this pent-up aggression, leading to brutal assaults that left many injured.
Mafomekoane’s testimony painted a bleak picture of the situation. He explained that the search procedures they were taught at the training school were much harsher than what he had learned in Leribe, where he had previously worked.
“In Leribe, inmates held their own belongings during searches, but at CSTS, recruits were taught to make inmates squat and raise their arms while being searched.” This physically demanding procedure was not only challenging for the inmates but also risked contaminating their food, as recruits had no time to wash their hands between searches.
Beyond the physical challenges, Mafomekoane emphasised the emotional toll the situation had taken on the recruits. As correctional officers, they were meant to be parental figures to the inmates, guiding them and ensuring their well-being. However, the lack of support and the constant disrespect had eroded their ability to fulfill this role.
“The inmates are our children,” Mafomekoane said, “so there is no parent who can just assault their children for no reason. The parents point in the direction for a reason. So, inmates were assaulted because they resisted being searched, and those who were badly assaulted were mostly resisting.”
Mafomekoane’s testimony also revealed the internal conflicts among the officers themselves. He criticised Chief Officer Ratšele for agreeing to accompany the recruits to MCCI without additional instructors.
The recruits had already been exhausted from their previous search, and this lack of support further fuelled their frustration. “Ratšele made a mistake of agreeing to come to the facility alone with the recruits while there are other instructors. They could have advised him that the recruits were from the search party, and that they were still tired, and they could not come to the facility,” Mafomekoane stated.
As the Commission of Inquiry continued to hear testimony, it became clear that the events of December 22 were not an isolated incident but the result of systemic issues within the correctional system.
The lack of support for recruits, the absence of proper training, and the failure to address the challenges they faced all contributed to the tragic outcome.
The testimony of Officer Mafomekoane highlighted the need for reform within the correctional services. The events at MCCI served as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting the well-being of both inmates and officers.
